Free trade deals delay public health initiative

The positive health initiative of
introducing plain packaging for cigarettes is being undone
by the Government’s free trade obsession, Green Party
health spokesperson Kevin Hague said today.

New Zealand
will follow Australia and legislate to allow for mandatory
plain packaging of tobacco products. The regulations to
implement the law will not be activated until the conclusion
of cases filed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules
against Australia for its plain packaging regime.

“Plain
packaging is a great public health initiative as it stops
tobacco companies getting around the law to stop them
advertising,” said Mr Hague.

“Their product kills –
and the Government should do all it can to stop them
ensnaring New Zealanders into this costly and deadly
habit.

“The decision to wait until legal cases taken
against Australia are concluded is however very
disappointing.

“Legislation that could save lives is
being postponed because of the risk of New Zealand being
sued due to free trade agreements we have signed in the
past.”

The Green Party is also concerned about the
impact the investor-state dispute procedure proposed in the
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) would have on New
Zealand’s ability to protect the health of its citizens.
Australia has resisted the investor-state dispute procedure
being included during its negotiations on the TPP.

“Signing up to the investor state dispute
resolution parts of the TPP will further expose New Zealand
to the risk of being sued by multi-national corporations
seeking to influence our public health policies.

“The
Key Government needs to protect the health of its citizens
and should therefore refuse to sign agreements that
constrain New Zealand’s right to legislate for the sake of
our health and
environment.”

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